It used to be a rare thing when start-ups were valued at $1 billion or more by their investors. Now it’s become so common that there are at least 131 start-ups boasting such valuations and a term — “unicorns” — to refer to the companies.
So which start-ups are next to reach the unicorn level? CB Insights, a research firm that tracks venture capital and start-ups, recently ran a data screen for The New York Times to answer the question. The exact valuations of the companies are hard to pin down because the start-ups are private and are not required to disclose their finances, but CB Insights determined that they might be on a path toward a $1 billion value through an algorithm that analyzed factors including amount of financing raised, employee turnover and social media mentions.
Here are the results, arranged alphabetically:
What it does: Online education
Where it’s based: Beijing
What it does: Drones
Where it’s based: Berkeley, Calif.
What it does: Software and services to power drones
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Financial technology
Where it’s based: Chicago
What it does: Online car marketplace
Where it’s based: Los Altos, Calif.
What it does: Online investing service
Where it’s based: New York
What it does: Bitcoin wallet
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Online health insurance
Where it’s based: San Mateo, Calif.
What it does: Mobile software
Where it’s based: Palo Alto, Calif.
What it does: Online food delivery
Where it’s based: London
What it does: Cloud computing services
Where it’s based: New York
What it does: Online razor sales
Where it’s based: Venice, Calif.
What it does: Online food delivery
Where it’s based: Palo Alto, Calif.
Edaija
What it does: Mobile driving services
Where it’s based: Beijing
What it does: Data analytics
Where it’s based: Amsterdam and Mountain View, Calif.
What it does: Online food delivery
Where it’s based: Shanghai
What it does: Health care technology
Where it’s based: New York
What it does: Customer support software
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Recruiting software
Where it’s based: New York
What it does: Mobile delivery
Where it’s based: Gurgaon, India
What it does: Online razor sales
Where it’s based: New York
What it does: Online food delivery
Where it’s based: Berlin
What it does: Mobile hotel booking
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Customer communication technology
Where it’s based: San Francisco
Mixpanel
What it does: Mobile analytics
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Online food delivery
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Identity and mobility technology
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Medical services
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Technology to optimize websites
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Online hotel booking
Where it’s based: New Delhi
What it does: Online pharmacy
Where it’s based: Boston
What it does: Satellites and imaging
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: On-demand delivery
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Online electronic health records
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Health care technology
Where it’s based: Arlington, Va.
What it does: Online marketplace for gift cards
Where it’s based: Chicago
What it does: Robotics
Where it’s based: Boston
What it does: Cloud security software
Where it’s based: Campbell, Calif.
What it does: Wireless speakers and home audio
Where it’s based: Santa Barbara, Calif.
What it does: Online marketing tools
Where it’s based: New York
What it does: Communities for programmers
Where it’s based: New York
What it does: Online personal stylists for women
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Online marketing
Where it’s based: New York
What it does: Online shopping
Where it’s based: Cape Town
What it does: Online services marketplace
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Online marketplace for work
Where it’s based: Mountain View, Calif.
What it does: Online used car auctions
Where it’s based: Beijing
What it does: Online investment management
Where it’s based: Palo Alto, Calif.
What it does: Online payroll
Where it’s based: San Francisco
What it does: Online billing and other tools
Where it’s based: Foster City, Calif.
Original Article by New York Times